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BalletBoyMumma

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Everything posted by BalletBoyMumma

  1. I think there’ll be less than 16 tbh, or at least those from the in-person auditions. There’ll be international candidates and those who couldn’t make it in-person to consider too (unless all the boys are able to make it in person). When we had the zoom info meeting I’m sure someone asked and they said generally they take 12 boys and 12 girls but they have the capacity to take a few more. Who knows, but yes, what an achievement in itself for the girls and boys who’ve made it through - they should all be super proud of themselves. Little superstars! 😊✨⭐️👏 We know a young lad who got a no last year, being that close can also be extra painful as you are aware your chances were higher but you still didn’t make it (if that makes sense?). He was so gutted, bless him, but has bounced back wonderfully and has lots of really exciting teachers now - his dance future is definitely looking bright. It’s been a nice reminder that getting a no isn’t always a bad thing or the ‘end of the world’ like it might feel like at the time. Fingers crossed they do take 16 of each though, that’d be amazing!
  2. I really hope so too. It’s really good news but also rather frustrating hearing other schools aren’t requiring test results to attend. The 48hr results timeframe is just too much to ask parents to adhere to with such limited resources. Even them ordering extra and charging us for the LF tests to be done onsite would be better. I hope there will be a solution.
  3. I know what you mean. We replied yes as thought we could use a home test (our area doesn’t do asymptomatic testing) to later find out these aren’t accepted. I’d suggest calling with auditions team tomorrow and asking what the process will be and for some reassurance. The deadline for replying to the invite was yesterday so hopefully there’ll be an email update in the next few working days.
  4. Hi, and welcome. Not yet. The emails with info are due out soon. Have you let them know? It’d be worth calling or emailing to ask.
  5. Thank you Cotes du rhone. I think the decision will be made for DS as we’ve heavily limited ourselves anyway (and he’s fine with that). The testing is proving a major a barrier too and with WL knowing about the postcode lottery on LFTs and not allowing affordable/reasonable alternatives, there’s a high chance we might not even make it there.
  6. This makes me sad. And yes, application deadlines would have passed. I’m sure I read somewhere on this forum that many students apply to other schools each year ‘just in case’. I would be really grateful to hear any experiences.
  7. Same. This is also why we didn’t apply to anywhere else. At least with WL we have the JA experience even though I know they are two entirely different things. If, big IF, it’s a yes, we are going to really struggle on making this decision. I feel like we’ve all lost a lot of control on discovering that all important ‘right fit’ for our DCs (that we keep being advised to do).
  8. Yes, definitely! That’s where we are too - try to focus on enjoying the experience. ☺️ Good luck everyone. ✨ Still struggling on the testing front here too. No luck so far. Hoping that with the recent announcement that our area will open a test site soon. Or the schools will help (they are currently organising testing for secondary students which they didn’t offer before). It’s all bit of a waiting game.
  9. I think it’s a fair discussion to have while still in the application process - probably better now than later down the line? The way assessing out is done concerns me far more than IF it’s done (as we already know it happens). It’s necessary to think about all of these things. Dance is only one aspect. Our own major concern is our local (and this towns only) state secondary school is fantastic but always very oversubscribed so DS almost certainly wouldn’t get a place later on and would have to travel to further out to not-so-good schools - we won’t be left with many options. So the regular reminder that not many DCs make it all the way through WL is a genuine concern. If this is true then what is happening that means more DCs are assessed out (or leave through choice) than stay? Please don’t get me wrong, it’s an incredible opportunity, but we are also preparing to audition for a school we are not 100% convinced is right (yet). Going in with eyes wide open seems to be the repeated advice from experienced parents on other areas of this forum.
  10. It’s still on the outskirts of London so not too bad. The only thing I will say is Richmond Park itself can get fairly busy, especially now nobody is really allowed to go anywhere else - give yourselves a little extra time if going for the afternoon session. Though the road to WL is sometimes closed with access only barriers so that must help a lot. And you might have to stop for deer to pass 😍 (we always add about 20-30 mins extra journey time so we can do a detour drive through the park).
  11. News just in, soon we’ll have 5 minute lateral flow tests, perfect for theatre venues, clubs, pubs and schools 😃 ....but likely not till after Easter. 😩😭
  12. https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park Seems some will still be open but some closed due to refurbs so always worth checking latest news on here. Ignore me about taking spare change, all contactless payments now apparently. No problem. It’s a beautiful park (though we’ve never been as far in as WL so not quite sure what’s nearby).
  13. There are toilets in the park too, might be chargeable, a lot of London’s public toilets are so carry some spare change. As for reaching the Sainsbury’s (or any other large supermarket) you’d probably want to drive it - the park is huge!! It’s so tough with the restrictions, isn’t it? We go to Rambert and they always let use theirs even during restrictions but it seems WL are so much stricter.
  14. Ones for essential workers (a friend offered us a spare as well) - apparently you register it online, take the test, submit the result along with your NHS number and info and you get a text and email back afterwards. But I’m none the wiser either tbh (sorry! ) just going by what I’ve been told. Hoping to try one and see what happens. The advisor on 119 explained every local authority is responsible for their own areas lateral flow testing, there’s been no National roll out or government advice on how it should be carried out, hence it varying so much. We have no LF test centres here, and no testing of students in schools, only staff (which most do at home).
  15. Thanks Bunny. That does help a lot (I forgot to ask that). This won’t help everyone but the at-home tests might be ok after all. I phoned and apparently it’s the official email you need from NHS or Gov.UK and that you can’t just bring the negative test cassette as proof (which should be obvious). As long as you have the email and it’s within 48hrs, that’s fine. I don’t know if you can register the standard at home ones for under16s though so I’m hoping to try one soon, then confirm what we have is suitable proof or not. (I’m also not sure how privately purchased ones work though). Tbh I think because it’s all so new, there’s still so much confusion. Maybe they’ve assumed everywhere is doing as London boroughs are. So if you are struggling, do let them know why.
  16. I agree, it needs to be a level playing field - I don’t envy anyone trying to organise this though. Like others have said, if it is proving an issue, please do let them know - the more aware they are of just how difficult this is, the more likely they’ll actively look for an alternative solution (like hopefully getting DofEs, or their equivalent board’s, permission to set up visitor testing onsite for those who can’t test in their local areas - surely they wouldn’t need to wait for a confirmation text to go ahead, just the actual test result itself?)
  17. Trying. First time no answer, second time bad line. Will try again soon.
  18. Phoned 119, again, very helpful but saying the same as others have been told. If the school are inviting people in then they need to be the ones ordering the tests and administering them onsite. Which apparently they can do - there shouldn’t be any barriers to this as it’ll be the same tests their own students and staff use, they just need to order extras. Urgh! My DS is only 10 and our local secondary schools aren’t testing students, only staff. I think it’s going to be Zoom for us (DS will be so deflated with that).
  19. Unfortunately not doable. You need proof of address as ID. I’ve just been on the phone to Richmond council and they can’t cover educational purposes for those outside of the area even with proof of invite (though they are far, far more helpful than my local council - she’ll see if there are any other options and will call me back).
  20. This is proving such a headache. I wonder if RBS would be willing to arrange something with Richmond council that would mean we could book tests there with a letter of invite from the school? (they do already say for those working within the area, I wonder if they’d include educational purposes) Just spoke to our local council and they are utterly useless and don’t care (saying to register with and order from the NHS...looking into it this doesn’t seem possible unless you work for NHS or a care home etc, plus would be waiting weeks or even months).
  21. Well, you have all done so incredible well without local teacher support then. That’s very impressive! @Lara Eschler we’ll gladly be his cheerleaders at any opportunities to watch (if we are lucky enough to get any before the year is out). I really love seeing the other children do well. Your DS is doing wonderfully and should be very proud of himself. It’s a lovely class but we’ve found this year particularly tough as there’s been hardly any chance to build friendships among the DCs (like there were in his JA class last year). DS is ALL about the social side of dance.
  22. They really were. Hoping there’ll be more like it throughout the year.
  23. Congratulations to all the invites to finals! 👏👏 To the not yets, it’s been such a strange year that DCs shouldn’t be discouraged at all. Keep going. You will shine no matter what. ⭐️✨✨✨ Regarding the videos, I’m not sure if elmhurst were different or how they’ve managed to get what they need but our RBS audition video was only viewed for such a short time and only once right after submitting it too - it seems most people’s did. I think sadly it’s got to be extra tough in the higher years this time round given there’s been no movement. Don’t give up! Many of the very best dancers we see today didn’t get a yes to vocational schools until much later on either. Keep dancing! ❤️✨
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